Softball season ends for Cowboys

The Gunnison High School softball team ended their season last week with a pair of losses and finished the year with a 7-16 record.

The Cowboys hosted Cedaredge on Tuesday, Oct. 6, and Delta on Thursday, Oct. 8, to close out their season.

Tuesday’s game against Cedaredge was won by the Bruins 14-2 in five innings. The Cowboys finished with four hits and committed just one error.

After one, the Bruins had a 2-1 lead, but a six-spot in the second gave the Bruins an 8-1 lead after two. Each team scored a run in the third and then the Bruins added two in the fourth and three in the fifth to close out the Cowboys.

Josie Vollendorf and Susan Espinoza each had two hits to lead the way for the Cowboys. Espinoza and McKayla Singer each had an RBI.

On the mound, Reese Japuntich gave up 14 runs (nine earned) on 13 hits, walking four and striking out two in five innings.

On Thursday, the girls played their final game of the 2026 season. They lost to Delta 16-1 in three innings, amassing two hits and committing three errors. 

The Cowboys found themselves down 3-1 after one, but then the Panthers scored eight in the second and five in the third to close out the game.

Victoria Crown and Japuntich each had a hit in the game and Japuntich had the Cowboys’ lone RBI. 

Japuntich and Brynn Romero combined to give up 16 runs (12 earned) on 12 hits, walking three and striking out one.

“Well, (the) season didn’t end like we would have wanted it,” wrote head coach Leslie diLorenzo in an email to the Times. “The seniors’ dedication and hard work will be missed.”

Seniors Maxx Black, Crown and Japuntich played their last game in a Cowboy uniform on Thursday.

This year’s team was young and diLorenzo noted from the beginning of the season that this year would be a time for the team to rebuild. With only three seniors graduating, much of this year’s team will be back for next season.

“This season, we didn’t have as many girls with varsity experience,” wrote diLorenzo. “As the season went on, we saw growth in the girls. Next year, we will still have only a couple of seniors but the amount of varsity innings played will benefit us greatly.”